Pilot Project Profile - University of Wisconsin - Madison

Page history last edited by collura@wisc.edu 2 days ago

Lead Contacts     |     Issue Focus     |     Pilot Project Plan     |     Timeline     |     Progress Reports

 

 

Lead Contacts

  • Shepherd Zeldin, Associate Professor - Human Development and Family and Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Nonprofits (phone 608-263-2383 ; rszeldin@wisc.edu).  Shep will serve as intermediary between Wisconsin, Princeton, Wisconsin Extension, and Bonner stakeholders.
  • Jessica Collura, graduate student (collura@wisc.edu |  440-227-0229), will organize and direct the efforts of the student researchers from University of Wisconsin.
  • Sue Allen and Matt Calvert, from 4-H Youth Development, will organize and direct the efforts of the Wisconsin Youth Voice State Coordination Team.  They will be assisted by Greg Hutchins, State Director of 4-H Youth Development. 

 

 

Issue Focus

  • Youth Voice in Policymaking:  
    • Youth voice and engagement
    • Creating a state-level youth policy board
    • Engaging undergraduates and graduate students in the governance and policy making of their campuses

 

The goal of this project is to build awareness of, and garner support for, youth voice in policy making in Wisconsin.  Our focus is on enhancing the voice and engagement of: (1) high school students in the Wisconsin legislature and (2) undergraduates and graduates in campus administration and policy making.

 

 

 

 

Progress Reports

  • Course Implementation Profile
  • Semi-Annual Progress Reports
    • April 1, 2009 Progress Report
    • August 15, 2009 Progress Report
    • December 15, 2009 Progress Report
    • June 1, 2010 Progress Report

 

 

Pilot Project Plan

 

Background

 

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 12) states that:

 

 “Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the rights of the child.  For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.”

 

Said directly, Article 12 states that young people are entitled to be active agents in their own development, that they are capable of expressing a view, and that they must be heard on all matters, including policy matters.  Youth engagement in policy making is not considered an end in itself, however.  The Convention further emphasizes that “youth voice” allows children to protect themselves better, strengthens their understanding of democracy, furthers their commitment to participate in civil society, and leads to better policy and program decisions within the public and nonprofit sectors.  

 

An emerging body of research over the past decade supports the claims stated within the Convention.  Youth voice in deliberative decision-making and community action promotes an effective citizenry.  Youth become more motivated and skilled at participation.  Adults become more aware of and responsive to youth needs, and consequently, nonprofit organizations implement more effective programming.  Community are more likely to incorporate youth issues into coalitions and collaborations. There is also evidence that youth voice reduces negative stereotypes about young people among policy makers, and that policy makers are more likely to seek out youth perspectives after directly working with or hearing from young people.

 

It is noteworthy that every member of the United Nations, except the United States and war-torn Somalia, has ratified the Convention.  Consequently, the United States lags behind other countries – most notably those in the United Kingdom and certain countries in Latin America – in creating policy and programmatic support for youth to become involved in community governance.  This status quo is changing slowly.  The National Governor’s Association, for example, urges that young people be involved in states’ decision making processes.  Upwards to 20 states are actively promoting youth engagement as a fundamental strategy for strengthening their youth policies. 

 

At the same time, there is some movement to enhance the voice of undergraduate and graduate students in university decision making.  These efforts are grounded in the successful experiences that campuses have had in promoting volunteerism, service learning, and community-based research among young adults.   There is a strong research base showing that students benefit, developmentally and academically, from these experiences.  When designed well, nonprofit organizations and larger communities can also benefit. There is an increasing awareness, however, that while students are afforded increasing opportunities to express their voice and use their skills to civically engage in their communities, the doors remain largely shut within their own universities and colleges. 

 

Wisconsin Extension (4H/Youth Development), along with Wisconsin Youth Voice (an alliance of youth and adults representing a variety of nonprofit organizations) has spearheaded efforts over the past three years to make youth voice “real” and “sustainable” in Wisconsin, at both the state and local levels of government.  This proposal is designed to further those aims.  At the same time, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Edgewood College have taken modest steps to enhance the voice of students in campus governance and policy making.  This proposal is also designed to support those efforts.

 

 

Student Engagement

 

High school and college students will research and prepare three Policy Briefs.  These policy briefs will be used as the foundation for public deliberation on issues of youth voice and civic engagement.  These Policy Briefs will also be used as a vehicle for public education and mobilization directed at state and campus leaders.

 

This project is designed as a collaboration between Wisconsin Extension, Wisconsin Youth Voice (WYV), the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Nonprofits, and Edgewood College.  The reach and experience of these four entities is wide.  This breadth will allow us to acheive the stated goals. 

 

The Wisconsin Youth Voice State Coordination Team includes members from public agencies, specifically the Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin National and Community Services Board.  These members are not allowed, by law, to engage in political or lobbying activity.  

 

 

Faculty Engagement

 

 

 

Deliberative Democracy Forum

 

We will build awareness of Article 12 and the importance of youth voice among high school youth, their adult partners, and supportive nonprofit organizations.  Participating youth and adults will hold discussions about the Policy Briefs at a statewide conference and within their local and statewide networks.  This conference, sponsored by the aforementioned organizations, will be designed to disseminate research-based information and to coalesce interest around maximizing youth engagement in Wisconsin.  

 

Throughout this initiative, participants – high school youth, undergraduates, and adults –  will have the opportunity to express their support for youth voice and civic engagement.  This signatory support, along with the Policy Briefs, will be presented and discussed with representatives of the executive and legislative branches of state government. 

 

 We wish to emphasize that this project does not include political or lobbying activity.  Consistent with the Wisconsin Idea, our goal is to use research and public education to raise awareness of youth voice and the importance of civic engagement.  The Policy Briefs, for example, will highlight the pros and cons of including young people in civic deliberation and decision making.  We will be giving students and community members an opportunity to sign a petition supportive of maximizing youth voice in Wisconsin.  This petition will outline legislative options for achieving this goal in ways consistent with available research and the views of community members.  We intend to meet with government officials to raise awareness of the issues, and to present options for addressing them.

 

 

Editorial/Advisory Board 

 

 

 

Timeline

Spring 2009

 

Phase I — Research and Drafting of Policy Briefs

 

  • February 10 — Collura will select up to six graduate and undergraduate students (“Analysis Team”) to participate in this project.
    • The analysis team was formed and consisted of six UW-Madison undergraduate students, one UW-Madison graduate student, and one Edgewood College student. 
  • March 1 — The Analysis Team is up to speed on Article 12 and the efforts of Wisconsin Youth Voice (“WYV”).  They have assembled and discussed relevant materials (e.g., Article 12; WYV past accomplishments and current goals; research on issue).  Toward this end, they have interviewed three key members of WYV.
    • The first analysis team meeting was held during the first week of March and members were provided with the necessary information and materials regarding Article and WYV.
  • March 14 — Analysis Team complete first drafts of Policy Brief #1 and Policy Brief  #2.
    • Initial drafts were posted. 
  • March 21 — Begin research for Policy Brief #3.  Analysis Team collaborates with undergraduate students enrolled in “Introduction to Research Methods.”  Analysis Team completes focus groups with students to gain insight into issues and strategies regarding the drafting of Policy Brief #3.  The Analysis Team then prepares the undergraduate students to conduct focus groups with their peers about undergraduate voice in university decision making.
    • The decision was made to focus efforts on the first and second briefs because WYV would need  them more immediately than the third brief.    
  • March 28 — A joint meeting occurs between the Analysis Team and the WYV Team in Madison.  The purpose is to: (1) work on Policy Briefs #1 and #2, and (2) to create an action plan for disseminating this plan to targeted audiences (potential allies and members of state legislature), engaging them in dialogue, and gaining their endorsement.
    • Analysis Team meet with WYV  team and decided on an action plan for dissemination.  The analysis team also had the opportunity to interview members from WYV to ensure their opinions were included in the briefs.
  • April 13 — Analysis Team submits second draft of Policy Brief #1 and Policy Brief #2 to WYV Team. Additionally, the Analysis plan submits drafts of “petitions” that will allow interested parties to endorse the inclusion of youth and young adults in state policy making processes.
    • Drafts were posted on the wiki.  Petition will be used at Youth Conferences and Communiversity sessions and will be drafted in collaboration with WYV  over the summer months.
  • April 20 — Undergraduate students report back to Analysis Team regarding their research on Policy Brief #3.  Discussion focuses on identifying where and how the students would like to have voice and input on university and/or state level policy making.
  • April 20 — Analysis Team receives feedback about Policy Brief #3 from Edgewood students.
    • Analysis Team decided to break down brief #2 into two separate briefs.  Work on the "new" brief began.

 

Phase II — Action Planning and Completing Policy Briefs

 

  • April 14 — Representatives from the Analysis Team and WYV confer with Bobby Hackett, Senior Vice President of the Bonner Foundation.  The goal is to brainstorm strategies for most effectively disseminating the Policy Briefs, holding deliberative forums, and gaining endorsement for the inclusion of youth and young adults in policy making.

 

 

Summer 2009

 

  • July, 2009 — Collura completes drafts of Policy Briefs #1 and #2, with technical assistance from other members of the Analysis Team.  An action plan for disseminating and gaining the endorsement of the Policy Briefs by diverse stakeholders is finalized. 
    • Drafts of Policy Briefs #1,#2, and #3 were completed
  • August, 2009 — Analysis team meets with WYV to finalize Policy Briefs.
    • Met with WYV and discussed necessary revisions
  • August, 2009 — An independent study syllabus is finalized for Analysis team members continuing to work on the Bonner project.
    • Syllabus was created and improved.

          

 

 

Fall 2009

 

Phase III — Consensus Building and Mobilization

 

  • November, 2009 — WYV facilitates sessions at the Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership Conference.  Policy Briefs #1 and #2 are discussed at the sessions.  Support is garnered from participants and organizations. 
    • One member from our analysis team helped facilitate this dialogue.  Over 100 attendees were present.
  • November 2009 — Analysis Team has led discussions of Policy Brief #1 and #2 in at least one undergraduate course at UW-Madison. 
    • Policy Briefs were discussed in and ILS capstone course.
  • March, 2010 — Building from the above, the Analysis Team and WYV has garnered the endorsement of legislators who have expressed interest in youth voice (Senators Olson, Miller, Taylor, Lassa), with the aim being to work with the Lieutenant Governor to offer resolutions on youth voice to the Wisconsin General Assembly

 

 

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.

Printable version
 
Anonymous Create an account or Log in